NZ Yarn Teams Up With Hemp New Zealand

Last week, NZ Yarn Ltd announced its new strategic shareholder and business
partner – Hemp New Zealand Ltd.

NZ Yarn Ltd manufactures wool spun yarns for the carpet industry worldwide.
As for Hemp New Zealand Ltd, well, we’re not sure about its activities up to
this point. However, the firm has been around for a while, with the New
Zealand Companies Office showing it was incorporated back in 2008.

Under the partnership agreement, Hemp New Zealand has acquired a 15% interest in NZ
Yarn. Furthermore, the company will construct a hemp fibre processing facility within the NZ Yarn factory, which is located in Burnside, Christchurch.

The facility will separate hemp stalks into fibre and hurd. Hemp fibre can be woven and used in yarn
systems. The hurd, which is the woody core material of the industrial hemp
plant, can be used in multiple applications, particularly in the construction
industry.

“There are many, many consumer and industrial uses for both hemp fibre and
hurd,” said Dave Jordan, chief executive of Hemp New Zealand. “We’re extremely excited about partnering with NZ Yarn and initially developing hemp and wool yarn blends which will provide consumers with a wider variety of products made from natural
fibres.”

NZ Yarn chairman Craig Carr says
hemp and wool’s attributes are of huge importance given the negative
environmental impact associated with synthetic fibres. Hemp also has advantages over other
natural fibres such as cotton, with less inputs including pesticides and water
required.

Hemp provides one of the strongest natural fibres (pictured above). Among its
many positive attributes is it retains colour better than cotton when dyed, has
anti-bacterial properties and offers excellent breathability. It’s already being
used for everything stuffing furnishings to the production of high quality
textiles.

Just about every part of the industrial
hemp plant has value and purpose – either as fuel, fibre or medicine or
food. However, different strains are grown for different purposes. It was
only relatively recently that a ban
on hemp seed foods in New Zealand was lifted.

“Overall, hemp can provide a very good return for both farmers and processors, as well as a high quality end product for the
consumer,” says Mr. Jordan.

Terry Lassitenaz writes exclusively for Hemp Gazette and has done so since the site launched in 2015. He has a special interest in the political arena relating to medical cannabis, particularly in Australia, and addressing the many myths surrounding this incredibly useful plant. You can contact Terry here.